FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1905, 13 November 1913, Page 6

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.

The amiablo anarchist who burls bombs at those he imagines to be his enemies is usually tlie first to howl; with terror and indignation 'at the suggestion of reprisals of an equally; violent nature. So our violent friends of the Federation oi Labour,: having had their fling of lawlessness. and cowardly assaults, have been j shouting themselves hoarse at the presence in the community of Men prepared to uphold the law and deal with them as they so richly deserve, j To those sympathisers with the law-: {rawness of mob violence and brutal intimidation, who have urged the' withdrawal of the special constables who have, at much inconvenience to themselves, undertaken to assist in preserving order, we would commend the recent attempt to intimidate the retail fruit-sellers., They will see that eve-n now threats to these fruiterers that their windows would be smashed if they bought or -sold fruit that has been handled by Arbitration labour are being malic. Likewise these Federationists, who demand the greatest license of speech for themselves and unbridled freedom of criticism, grow quite furious if anyone who does not agree with them dares to express an opinion. Because Messrs. Reardon and Barb have publicly and quite properly warned unionists of .the disaster into which the Federation is trying "to lead them, one of the strike leaders has openly declared that they are "earmarked" for punishment, and that "the men of Petone and else* where will .mete out such .retribution to these men as has never been done before." Of course, Messrs. Eearbon and Barb, will treat such wild tajkwith contempt, but it shows the snirit which inspires thd tactics of the Federation. The same tyrannical methods are used for the purpose of crushing out the free expression of opinion among the workers themselves. We are told, 'for instance, that one of the Auckland agitators referred in strong terms to certain members of the old Waterside Workers'' Union, who were expressing their doubts as to the wisdom of continuing the strike, and he said that "they should be batoqed." It is no wonder that the best men among the unionists are just as disgusted as the employers with the intolerable methods of the Federation of Labour, and they are not likely to shed any tears when its oppressiveinfluence is utterly shattered.